This is the first epiode from the ActiVAtED Learning Podcast series featuring renowned Blended Learning author and educator, Catlin Tucker.

This is the 2nd episode in the ActiVAtED Learning Podcast series. Host, Tom Landon interviews  Dr. Lisa Coons, Superintendent of Public Instruction about the principles of All in VA.

This is the 3rd episode from the ActiVAtED Learning Podcast series featuring Emily Burrell from South Lakes High School in Fairfax, VA and Wezi Thindwa of Adobe Systems,

Katie Fielding is a STEM Coach for Prince William County Schools, and Chris Bugaj is an author and Assistive Technologist in Loudon County, VA. ActiVAtED Learning host Tom Landon sat down with them at the 2023 VSTE conference, where Katie shared her experience as a child with Cystic Fibrosis and how that led her to become a leader in assistive technology and inclusion, and Chris shared his thoughts on how assistive technology can help ALL students, not just those with disabilities.

This is the 5th episode from the ActiVAtED Learning Podcast series featuring several teachers from Rocky Gap Elementary School in Stafford County, VA.

On this episode we travel to Henrico County to visit with Yvette Lee of J.R. Tucker High School. Mrs. Lee is a finalist for the 2023 Presidential Award for Math and Science Teaching sponsored by the White House and the National Science Foundation. She talked about the challenges of learning how to teach American students after leaving South Korea. We also caught up with Louisa County Technology Coach Nikki Wagoner at the 2023 VSTE Conference in Roanoke.

When two newly-minted instructional technology resource teachers went to the administration in Washington County, Virginia with an idea for a mobile technology lab, they were met with a resounding YES, after which they had to figure out how to make it happen. Andrew Smith and Thomas Larimer join Activated Learning podcast host Tom Landon to share how they created a trailer that contains drones as well as virtual reality and robotics equipment. Now that trailer travels the mountain roads of their rural county to bring state of the art learning opportunities to teachers and students while maximizing the investment in teaching tools for the county.

Logan Childress went from being a band teacher to setting up and running two Virtual Reality Labs for Bristol City Schools. He joined ActiVAtED Learning host Tom Landon in the lab at Virginia High School to talk about how he did it and what he's learned in the process.

This is the 9th episode of the ActiVAtED Learning Podcast series featuring Blacksburg Middle School librarian, Kelly Passek.

This interactive graphic, produced in partnership with Virtual Virginia, features a photo of a stereotypical teenager’s room, with hover-activated graphics that include text describing common hiding places for vapes and related objects.

This playlist contains resources for parents who are interested in protecting the health of their children, and for school divisions tasked with sharing parent education resources within their region. All resources were produced in partnership with the Virginia Department of Education and Health Education experts.

What Parents Need to Know about Kids and Unsafe Behavior (Opioid focus -What it Takes Episode)
Description: For both parents and adults who care about children, one of the hardest things to do is to try to help a child in crisis. Whether it’s drugs, alcohol, sexual behavior, or other vices, it can be hard to be both helpful and compassionate while not either contributing the to the problem or causing a child to shut us out. Dr. Cheri Hartman was Roanoke’s Citizen of the Year in 2021 for her advocacy and outreach with children and adults. She is the Grant Project Director at Carilion Clinic Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health in Roanoke, and she joins host Tom Landon to discuss how to help kids avoid addiction and destructive behavior.

What Parents Need to Know About Opioids and Families (Parent Interview):
Description: Tess Henry was a promising young woman who lost her life to opioid addiction. Now her mother, Patricia Mehrman, shares the story of her daughter’s journey from honor student and published poet to her tragic murder in Las Vegas where she had gone to seek treatment. This story demonstrates that no child is immune from the dangers of opioids, and provides tips for parents for recognizing the signs of addiction in their children. Produced in partnership with the Virginia Department of Education by Blue Ridge PBS

What Parents Need to Know about Vaping Prevention:
Description: When New York mom Mimi Boublik learned that her high schooler had started vaping, she was ill prepared to discuss the consequences of e-cigarette use, so she joined up with a group of other moms who'd recently formed PAVe, Parents Against Vaping e-Cigarettes. Now, years later, the organization is still leading the fight against big tobacco's kid-centric marketing efforts. Boublik discusses the long term dangers of e-cigarettes as part of a collaboration with the Virginia Department of Education to provide Virginia parents with the tools they need to talk to their kids about harmful behaviors.

What Parents Need to Know About Vaping – Hidden in Plain Sight Presentation:
Description: Hidden in Plain Sight is a nationally recognized program where local health agencies partner with law enforcement to help parents understand the dangers their kids face when it comes to drugs. Vaping is considered by many to be less harmful than cigarettes, but often leads to nicotine addiction in kids. In this program, Radford City (VA) Police officer Thad Beasley walks parents through a typical child's bedroom to point out how kids might hide vaping materials "in plain sight", and how parents can check to make sure their kids are safe. This video was produced for the Virginia Department of Education by Blue Ridge PBS.

What Parents Need to Know about Problem Gambling – What it Takes:
Description: In 2022, Americans lost a record 55 billion dollars in casinos and on mobile gaming apps, over 13% more than in any previous year. The growth of sports betting and the arrival of casinos in the Commonwealth represents a huge opportunity for revenue generation, but for some gamblers the allure of big money can become problematic. Host Tom Landon is joined by Anne Rogers and Don McCourtney of the Virginia Office of Behavioral Health and Wellness to share ways to help those who suffer from gambling addiction.

What Parents Need to Know About Teen Gambling – Parent Interview:
Description: Gambling is now legal in Virginia, with the arrival of casinos to go along with the Virginia Lottery, Off Track Betting, and licensed online sports books. But it's still illegal for children to gamble. In this interview, two parents share their own journey of addiction and recovery, and how addiction affected their family, including a teenage son who also shared their family's secret addiction.

What Parents Need to Know about Student Betting
Description: Blue Ridge PBS is proud to partner with Gray Media and the Arnoldt Center for Investigative Journalism at Indiana University to air and share an excellent report that highlights the ways that teens get involved in sports betting and the consequences of doing so. The investigative package they have created includes video resources and written reports highlighting the dangers of teen gambling.